HC Deb 27 November 1978 vol 959 cc10-1
8. Mr. John Hunt

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will seek to repeal the Hairdressers (Registration) Act 1964.

Mr. Meacher

No, Sir.

Mr. Hunt

Is the Minister aware that the Hairdressing Council set up under that Act has become a shambles, with the chairman acting in an autocratic and arbitrary way, the registrar dismissed and the police now making inquiries into the council's accounts? Since the two hon. Members who were members of that council have now resigned and there is therefore no public accountability of any kind, is it not time for that Act to be repealed and the council wound up and for us to start from scratch again?

Mr. Meacher

I am not sure about starting from scratch again, but if the 1964 Act has been infringed, members of the council can of course take action through the courts: if the chairman has acted in the way alleged or if there are other improprieties, it is possible either to appoint a new chairman or to make other changes using the procedures according to the regulations under schedule 1 of the 1964 Act. I certainly see no reason to change the 1964 Act while this opportunity exists to change the situation.

Mr. Kenneth Lewis

Is the Minister aware that I have just had my hair cut downstairs? [HON. MEMBERS:"Not very well."] I do not think that that had anything to do with the Hairdressing Council. Do we really need the Hairdressers (Registration) Act 1964 at all?

Mr. Meacher

I can certainly compliment the hon. Gentleman on the achievement of the House of Commons barber. The 1964 Act was introduced as a Private Member's Bill, not a Government Bill. The only main change made was that the mandatory regulation proposed in the Bill was changed to a voluntary one.